Superfan flies from Sydney for opening of Queensland's first Taco Bell

By Toby Crockford

November 4, 2017 — 5.14pm

More than 900 kilometres for a burrito - it may not seem worth the journey to most, but it was worth the effort in Ashlea Russell's eyes after flying from Sydney to attend the opening of Queensland's first Taco Bell fast-food restaurant in Brisbane on Saturday.

An estimated 50 people camped outside overnight ahead of the 9am ribbon-cutting and Ms Russell wasn't the only interstate visitor, with the first customer to enjoy the Mexican cuisine being a Melbourne fan who also flew up especially for the opening in Annerley.

For Ms Russell, it all started in the lead-up to her 21st birthday in March, when her mum said she couldn't have a party to celebrate because "there were too many people living in the house" on the New South Wales central coast.

"So I jumped on a plane to Vegas and had my first burrito at Taco Bell and fell in love," she said.

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Ms Russell said she had planned to fly back to the US just for a burrito, but now plans to make a monthly road trip to Queensland to stockpile Taco Bell food so she can bring it back and freeze it.

“They taste so similar to the US, the only difference I can taste is the nacho cheese,” she said.

Ashlea Russell in her giant Taco hat before she is driven back to Brisbane Airport in a stretch limousine.Credit:Dylan Evans - Supplied

The trip to the airport for her flight back to Sydney was one of luxury for Ms Russell after Taco Bell arranged for a golden stretch limousine.

Taco Bell Brisbane has opened at 594 Ipswich Rd in Annerley.

The first Taco Bell restaurant opened in California in 1962.

Correction: This story was first published on November 4. It incorrectly stated the Brisbane restaurant was the first Taco Bell to open in the country. The story was changed on November 6 to describe the fast-food restaurant as the first to open in Queensland, because Taco Bell previously had a restaurant in Sydney.